Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Exercise helps odds of surviving cancer



That was the article I read in yesterdays Post Gazette. Now, being that both my Dad and his wife have been diagnosed with cancer this past year, the article caught my attention. I thought I'd pass on a little information,

About 44 percent of men and 39 percent of women will get cancer at some point in their lives. Our odds of surviving cancer increase dramatically if we get at at least 150 minutes a week of moderate exercise, a British study published this month indicates.

Exercise can reduce the risk of dying from prostate cancer by 30 percent, from breast cancer by 40 percent, from bowel cancer by 50 percent.

A third of the roughly 570,000 cancer deaths in America each year are linked to poor diet, physical inactivity and caring too much weight, according to the American Cancer Society.

"Evidence is growing that exercise helps you tolerate the treatment better, helps you recover faster and helps reduce the risk of recurrence," said Josie van Londen, director of the Cancer LiveWell Survivor ship program at UPMC's Hillman Cancer Center and Magee Womens Hospital.

A specific physical benefit of exercise for women with breast cancer or who at risk of getting it is that "women who do more exercise have less estrogen in their system, and it is estrogen that increases the risk of breast cancer," Dr. Raymond said.

Insulin also contributes to breast cancer, she said, and insulin levels are also lowered with exercise.

"Overweight women are more at risk. Overweight women have more estrogen circulating", she said. "That's one reason why obesity leads to more breast cancer".

You can read the full article at http://http://www.post-gazette.com/ "Exercise helps the odds of surviving cancer. Very informative! Check it out and pass it on to you loved ones!

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.

Eleanor Roosevelt

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